By Ngor Deng Matem
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has pledged 40 million South Sudanese Pounds as part of his contributions towards the development of Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NBG) University.
The University administration organized a fundraising event in Aweil town during the weekend to pull resources for upgrading the university.
Amongst the contributors are Vice President for Service Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi; he has pledged 10 million SSP and 1 million bricks; Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs, Tut Gatluak, the Executive Director in the office of the President, James Deng Wal and Presidential Press Secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny also contributed 10 million SSP.
5, 911 USD and over Seven hundred thousand (700,000) pounds were raised in cash.
Speaking during the event, the Presidential Press Secretary, Ateny Wek Ateny said the development of learning institution should start from the primary level not only college level.
“What makes university a reality is the quality of those who teach there and quality of students within but not the short distance the university takes from your house. Therefore, I appeal to the state government to improve the primary and secondary school levels,” Ateny said.
“Even if the university is at the back of your house, still you cannot get there if you don’t have quality education from secondary school,” he continued.
The Presidential Press Secretary however said that, he will share all the demands raised in the fundraising event with the President, including changing the name from college to university.
He urged the State government to strengthen their efforts to improve the primary and secondary education.
For his part, the Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state Tong Akeen Ngor said that his government has ever since contributed over 22 million South Sudanese pounds through counties.
He said, Aweil East County contributed SSP 9 million, Aweil South County contributed SSP 5.3 million, Aweil North County contributed over a million SSP, Aweil center, SSP over 4 million, Aweil town with SSP one million (1m). He however said that Aweil West County has not yet contributed because the commissioners appointed are now working.
“This money was raised from chiefs and other citizens. So, this is government contribution,” Governor Tong said.
Most of the people who spoke at the event challenged the decision taken to rename the public university in Aweil as polytechnic.
One of the sons from Aweil who funded the fundraising event said that if the university is fully established shall help not only the Aweil people but the whole of South Sudan.
“When I saw that there was need to have the University for easy access to education by the young generation, and there was an idea to raise the funds to build the university,” he said.
I thought of this as part of payback to the community. I am from Aweil and if there is what I help best, I have to do it at home. I am sure that this project once achieved, it will help many children to enrol in the University right from home,” Wol said.
Last week, the Administration of Northern Bahr el Ghazal University announced the intake of 2022. It urged students who are interested to do public health and nursing courses to apply.